Hedge Trade Will Protect Long Term AUDUSD Yield Seekers

The upward trajectory in the Australian Dollar has been guided by a trend line established in August of last year. The pair is driven higher by a widening yield differential between the two countries, with the RBA moving to contain inflation with record-high borrowing costs at 7.25% all the while the US Fed pushes on with rate cuts. The Australian economy has begun to slow under weight of hefty monetary tightening, but there are no signs that the RBA will pursue easing in the near term. This suggests the growth in yield spread between the two currencies is set to continue.

Having put in a top at 0.9500, AUDUSD tested there again shortly thereafter with a weaker, shallower run upward. A second rejection prompted a decline in price action to the trend line support level. From there, the pair’s ascent has been more measured, easing gently upward and working through various levels of intermediate resistance. Yesterday’s strong up move was stopped along a downward sloping resistance line formed by recent highs. We see AUDUSD retrace lower from here before the next up leg materializes.
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Hedging Strategy[/B]

[B]Currency Pair: [/B]AUDUSD

[B]Long Term Bias:[/B] Bullish
[B]Long Term Position:[/B] Holding Long (from 04/01 trend line test)

[B]Short Term Bias:[/B] Bearish
[B]Short Term Position: [/B]Short below 0.9380, Target 0.9140, Stop-Loss at 0.9480

Traders looking to protect their existing long AUDUSD position or enter long at a favorable price may consider a hedge short AUDUSD below 0.9380 with a target near trend line support at 0.9140. Once the profit target is hit, we expect the bullish trend to resume. We will maintain a stop-loss on our hedge position should AUDUSD break out to the upside prior to the limit being hit. We will set the stop-loss near 0.9480.

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When should I use the hedging feature?[/B]

Markets hardly ever trade in the same direction for long. Though there are general trends that may unfold for weeks, months and years; there is almost always considerable fluctuation in price during these periods – sometimes leading to significant retracements. There are a few common strategies that traders use to immunize their risk to counter-trend moves while still holding to the long-term trend. One method of reacting to these changing tides is to actively enter and exit a trade on each swing, which requires constant attention and a superior ability to pick tops and bottoms. The other, more passive, strategy is to hold on for the long-term trend through retracements in the belief that the higher trend will reengage. Taking a temporary hedge positions through the counter-trend moves, on the other hand, requires less accuracy in picking tops and bottoms and at the same time lowers the drawdown while increasing the potential for return.

The hedging feature is currently available on all accounts using FXCM’s No Dealing Desk service.

For more information on FXCM hedging strategies please visit What Is A Hedge Ratio? - FXCM UK.

[I]To reach Ilya with comments regarding this or other articles he has authored, please email him at <[email protected]>.[/I]